The Georgia BRIGHT Communities Coalition, of which the City of Savannah is a member, has been awarded a $156 million Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant through the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund’s Solar for All program.

The Coalition is a consortium of cities with clean energy goals led by the community development financial institution Capital Good Fund. The Coalition’s grant will support investments in solar energy across the state for five years.

Solar for All is a $7 billion competitive grant program administered by the EPA and funded by the Inflation Reduction Act. The EPA has awarded 60 grants to states, territories, tribal governments, municipalities, and nonprofits to bring the benefits of solar energy to low-income and disadvantaged communities. 

“This grant is an incredible investment towards our 100% Savannah Plan and our goal to focus on equitable clean energy for all,” Mayor Van R. Johnson, II said. “We are so grateful to our federal and coalition partners for investing in our community-centered vision. We look forward to getting these resources into communities who need them the most.” 

The Georgia BRIGHT Communities Coalition includes the cities of Savannah, Atlanta, and Decatur, along with 91 additional local government, faith-based, and nonprofit partners who provided letters of support.

“Following the direction of City Council and the 100% Savannah Plan we have made serious investments in clean energy programs to benefit our city’s residents,” City Manager Joseph A. “Jay” Melder said. “We are grateful to our partners in the Coalition and the EPA for recognizing our work and investing in Savannah. Thank you to Team Sustainability and Interim Director Alicia Brown for leading the City’s part in this grant.”  

Investments that are expected to be supported by the grant include: 

• Residential solar and battery leases as an expansion of the existing Georgia BRIGHT pilot program.

• A free solar program for households earning under 50% of the area median income.

• A community benefit solar program that will provide solar energy procurement agreements or low cost loans for community-serving nonprofits, houses of worship, schools, and local governments that agree to reinvest their savings in the community.

• Investments to create new or improve existing utility-led community solar programs.

• Investments in workforce training, small business creation, and other forms of economic development.

• Investments in pre-solar home repairs, like roof replacements and electrical upgrades.

• Investments in community education and capacity building.

Award negotiations are expected to continue over the next few months. Once funds are dispersed, the Coalition will begin community and stakeholder engagement to guide program design and implementation.